Table of contents

Saturday, the 30th of December, 1654.

Prayers.

Forfeitures.

ORDERED, That Mr. Recorder of London, Mr.
Yorke, Mr. Turnor, Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Garland, Mr.
Solicitor General, Mr. Lister, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir
Anth. Ashley Cooper, Mr. Nathaniell Bacon, Mr. Baron
Thorpe, Mr. Francis Bacon, Mr. Crook, Mr. Gewen, Mr.
Serjeant Glyn, Mr. Bond, or any Three of them, do prepare
and bring in a Bill, upon the Debate of the House, touching Forfeitures, Confiscations, Fines, and Amerciaments,
not already granted or disposed of, to be to the Benefit
of the Commonwealth: And Mr. Yorke is to take care
hereof, and to bring it in on Tuesday Morning next.

Settling the Government.

The House proceeded upon the Debate of the Bill
touching the Government.

The One-and-twentieth Chapter, being read, was, upon
the Question, agreed.

The Two-and-twentieth Chapter was read; and, upon
the Question, agreed.

The Three-and-twentieth Chapter was read; and,
upon the Question, agreed.

Resolved, That, instead of the Words "Six Months,"
in the Three-and-twentieth Chapter, these Words be inserted, viz. "Six-and-twenty Weeks."

The Four-and-twentieth Chapter was read.

Resolved, That in the Fourth Line of this Chapter,
these Words, viz. "have Power to," and these Words
"to sit," be left out: And, instead of these Words, "Six
Months:" these Words be inserted, viz. "Six-and-twenty
Weeks:" And in the last Line of this Chapter, instead of
"Three Months," the Words, "Thirteen Weeks," being
inserted: And the whole Chapter, so amended, was upon
the Question, agreed.

Assault in Lobby.

The House being informed, That one Theauro John, in
the Lobby, without the Door of the Parliament, did there
draw his Sword, and struck at divers Persons: and ran
with his Sword against the Door of the House;

He was, by Order of the House, brought to the Bar:
Where, being demanded by Mr. Speaker, What his Name
was; answered, Theror John: Being asked, Why he came
hither; saith, He fired his Tent; and the People were
ready to stone him, because he burnt the Bible; which he
acknowledgeth he did:-Saith, It is Letters, not Life: And
he drew his Sword, because the Man jostled him at the
Door-Saith, he burnt the Bible, because the People say,
it is the Word of God; and it is not; it deceived him: And
saith, He burnt the Sword and Pistols, and Bible, because
they are the Gods of England. He did it not of himself:
And being asked, Who bid him do it; saith, God.

And thereupon was commanded to withdraw.

Resolved, That the said Theauro John be committed to
the Gatehouse, Westminster, in order to a further Proceeding against him, both for drawing his Sword at the Parliament Door, and for burning the Bible; and affirming,
that the same is not the Word of God: And that there
be a Charge given to the Keeper, to take Notice of any
Persons as shall resort to him.

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, to examine him: and to present to the House their Opinion,
what is fit to be done in respect of both these Offences:
And that it be referred to the Committee, to whom the Business touching Biddle is referred, to report with Speed.

Quakers.

Resolved, That it be referred, to Mr. Serjeant Glyn,
Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Turnor, Mr. Godfrey,
Mr. Long, Mr. Beale, Mr. Brisco, Colonel Birch, Lieutenant Colonel Kelsey, Mr. Lister, Mr. Bedford, Mr.
Timbs, or any Three of them, to prepare a Bill, upon the
Debate of the House, touching Quakers; with Power to
them to receive Informations, from the Members of this
House, or others, touching these Persons; the better to
enable them to describe them in this Bill.

Post Meridiem.

Settling the Government.

THE Five-and-twentieth Chapter being read; and,
instead of the Word "State," the Word "Commonwealth" being inserted: And instead of these Words,
"first three Months," these Words be inserted, viz. "the
Space of Thirteen Weeks, to be accounted from the first
Day;" and the Words "have Power to," and these Words
"to sit," being omitted: And, instead of the Words "one
Month," these Words to be inserted, "Four Weeks."

And the said Chapter, so amended, was, upon the
Question, passed.

The Six-and-twentieth Chapter being read;

The Question being put, That these Words, viz. "and
for the Cinque Ports, Barons of the more discreet," be
inserted into the Writ;

It passed in the Negative.

And the Chapter being put to the Question, was
agreed.

The Seven-and-twentieth Chapter being read;

Resolved, That, next after the Words "Sheriffs of
England, Scotland, and Ireland," these Words be inserted,
viz. "and other Officers.

The Question being put, That these Words, "the
usual or," do stand;

It passed in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That, in the last Line of this Chapter, instead of the Word "Proclamation," the Word "Publication" be inserted.

And the Chapter so amended, being put to the Question, was agreed.

The Eight-and-twentieth Chapter being read, and put
to the Question, was agreed.

The Nine-and-twentieth Chapter being read;

The Question being put, To agree to the Sums, as
they are in this Chapter set down;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, That these Words, viz. "by Action of Debt,
Bill, Plaint, or Information, wherein no Wager of Law,
Essoign, or Protection, shall be allowed," be added in
this Chapter, next after the Word "Westminster."

The Thirtieth Chapter was read; and, upon the
Question, agreed unto.

The One-and-thirtieth Chapter was read; and, upon
the Question, agreed unto.

The Two-and-thirtieth Chapter was read:

And the Question being put, Whether the Words
"Taverns and Alehouses;" do stand in this Clause;

It passed in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That the Word "common" be inserted
next before the Word "Haunter."

The Question being put, That the Words "or Brothel-Houses" do stand in this Chapter;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That these Words, "none
that shall hereafter drink Healths; or be guilty of Adultery or Fornication, Extortion, Perjury, Forgery, or
Bribery;" be Part of this Chapter;